Ray Ruffels
Full name | Raymond Owen Ruffels |
---|---|
Country (sports) | Australia |
Born | Sydney, Australia | 23 March 1946
Turned pro | 1968 (amateur tour from 1964) |
Retired | 1980 |
Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 164–167 (Open era) |
Career titles | 6 |
Highest ranking | No. 27 (12 December 1976) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1968, 1969, 1975) |
French Open | 4R (1968) |
Wimbledon | QF (1967) |
US Open | 4R (1966) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 219–137 |
Career titles | 16 |
Mixed doubles | |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Wimbledon | F (1978) |
US Open | F (1978) |
Raymond Owen "Ray" Ruffels (born 23 March 1946)[1] is an Australian former professional tennis player and coach.
Personal
Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela. Both children have taken up golf as a career.[2][3]
Playing career
Ruffels was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 1968, 1969 and 1975, and a quarter-finalist in 1970 and 1977. In 1978, partnering with Billie Jean King in mixed doubles competition, Ruffels reached the final at Wimbledon and the US Open.
He was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team from 1968 to 1970, and in 1977.[1]
Doubles titles (16)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1970 | Merion, US | Hard | Bill Bowrey | Jim McManus Jim Osborne |
3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 2. | 1970 | Phoenix, US | Hard | Dick Crealy | Jan Kodeš Charlie Pasarell |
7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 3. | 1970 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš |
7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 |
Winner | 4. | 1971 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | Bob Carmichael | Brian Fairlie Raymond Moore |
6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 1. | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | Bob Carmichael | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
4–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1971 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
6–7, 2–6 |
Winner | 5. | 1972 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | Bob Carmichael | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 6. | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Indoor | Bob Carmichael | John Alexander Terry Addison |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | Syd Ball | Ismail El Shafei Roscoe Tanner |
W/O | |
Winner | 7. | 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Bob Carmichael | Brian Fairlie Onny Parun |
7–6, RET. |
Winner | 8. | 1975 | Baltimore WCT, US | Carpet | Dick Crealy | Ismail El Shafei Frew McMillan |
6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 9. | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, US | Carpet | Allan Stone | Paul Gerken Brian Gottfried |
7–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | Colin Dibley | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 10. | 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | Colin Dibley | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 11. | 1976 | Dayton, US | Carpet | Sherwood Stewart | Jaime Fillol Charlie Pasarell |
6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 12. | 1976 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | Syd Ball | Giuliano Pecci Haroon Rahim |
6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Winner | 13. | 1976 | Boston, US | Clay | Allan Stone | Mike Cahill John Whitlinger |
3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1976 | Bermuda | Clay | Dick Crealy | Mike Cahill John Whitlinger |
4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
Winner | 14. | 1976 | Bangalore, India | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Chiraid Mukherjea Bhanu Nunna |
6–2, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1977 | La Costa WCT, US | Hard | Allan Stone | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 15. | 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Allan Stone | Nick Saviano John Whitlinger |
6–2, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Allan Stone | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
Winner | 16. | 1977 | Australian Open-2, Melbourne | Grass | Allan Stone | John Alexander Phil Dent |
7–6, 7–6 |
Coaching career
Ruffels was appointed the inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) tennis program in 1981. He held this position until his retirement in January 1990.[4] Whilst at the AIS, Ruffels coached many young players that would have successful professional careers including: Pat Cash, Wally Masur, Darren Cahill, Todd Woodbridge, Richard Fromberg, Simon Youl and Johan Anderson.[5] After leaving the AIS, he coached Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, who as a doubles team won many major titles including the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[6]
In 2009, he returned to Australia to work at the AIS after being a national coach for the United States Tennis Association player development program in California.[7]
In November 2016, he was awarded The President’s Spirit of Tennis by Tennis Australia.
References
- ^ a b "Ray Ruffels". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "The Inside Story: Ryan Ruffels". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Little sister steals limelight". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Australian Sports Commission. Annual report 1989-1990 (PDF).
- ^ "Tennis at the Australian Institute of Sport". Pandora Archive - Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 19 January 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Ray Ruffels wins The President's Spirit of Tennis Award". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Ruffels returns to coach Aussie youngsters". ABC News. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.